U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) announced on September 16 that the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth and Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative will each receive a federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant worth $125,000 per year for five years. The grants will fund their respective efforts to reduce youth substance use and are administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

ÒWe have the power to challenge and reduce drug use among young people here in Ashland and Cherryland,Ó said Linda Pratt, Program Director with CommPre, a program of Horizon Services, Inc, which serves as the fiscal agent for the DFC initiative of the Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative. ÒThis new funding will allow Ashland Cherryland Violence Prevention Collaborative to support young people to live healthier lives and build a safer community for all of us.Ó

ÒThanks to this funding, we can continue to help Hayward youth make smart choices by preventing harmful drug use before it starts. Our community will benefit and our young people will be healthy and safe,Ó said Rose Hansen, Executive Director with Eden Youth and Family Center, which manages the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth.